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CenterPoint files suit to stop Elwood reroute

By THE HERALD-NEWS

June 11, 2014

ELWOOD – CenterPoint Properties, Union Pacific and APL Logistics filed suit Monday in U.S. District Court in an effort to dismantle the village’s recent decision to reroute semitrailer traffic near Walter Strawn Drive just west of Route 53.

However, on Tuesday, a federal judge refused to grant CenterPoint temporary injunctive relief, according to a news release from Elwood.

The lawsuit alleges Elwood’s actions “severely restrict truck access to and from intermodal facilities in the CenterPoint park,” violating federal law on interstate commerce and transportation, causing significant economic damage and creating unsafe road conditions throughout the region, according to a news release from CenterPoint.

The village’s prohibitions of certain turns to and from Walter Strawn Drive diverts “heavy truck traffic” through congested areas, including current construction on Interstate 55 at the Des Plaines River Bridge. The zone saw two construction-related fatalities last year.

The village’s restrictions will remain in place until the judge makes a final decision, according to Elwood’s news release.